Vetus BOW Thrusters 250 mm BOW12512D, BOW16024D (PDF)

OWNER'S MANUAL

Installation, use and service parts for the Vetus 250 mm tunnel DC bow thrusters BOW12512D / BOW12524D (125 kgf), BOW16024D (160 kgf) and BOW18024D (180 kgf).

DocumentVetus BOW Thrusters 250 mm BOW12512D, BOW16024D, BOW18024D Installation & User Manual

FormatPDF · 53 pages · 15.4 MB

LanguageEnglish

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Technical Data Batteries & Cables Tunnel Installation Use Service Parts Products

Vetus BOW Thrusters 250 mm BOW12512D, BOW16024D, BOW18024D — Installation & User Manual

Technical Data

Item	BOW12512D	BOW12524D	BOW16024D	BOW18024D
Voltage / current	12 V DC, 840 A	24 V DC, 470 A	24 V DC, 560 A	24 V DC, 400 A
Rated output / rpm	5.7 kW, 3350 rpm	5.7 kW, 3650 rpm	7 kW, 3250 rpm	7 kW, 3250 rpm
Rating	S2 - 2.5 min.	S2 - 3,5 min.	S2 - 4.5 min.	S2 - 4 min.
Protection	IP20	IP20	IP10	IP10
Gear ratio	2.33 : 1	2.33 : 1	1.92 : 1	1.92 : 1
Rated thrust	1250 N (125 kgf, 281 lbf)	1400 N (140 kgf, 315 lbf) (as printed; 125 kgf in the battery table)	1600 N (160 kgf, 360 lbf)	1800 N (180 kgf, 405 lbf)
Solenoid switch current	2.8 A	1.4 A	1.4 A	1.4 A
Weight excl. tunnel	37 kg (82 lbs)	37 kg (82 lbs)	48.5 kg (107 lbs)	55 kg (121 lbs)

All: reversible DC motor, bevel gear with helical teeth, bronze housing, oil bath approx. 0.1 litre (3.4 fl.oz.) outboard gear oil SAE80W or EP 90; 6-blade asymmetrical Delrin propeller ø 246 mm (9 11/16"); ATO blade fuse 5 A.
Rating S2 ‘t’ min.: t min. continuously or max. t min. per hour at the rated current.
Tunnel: steel O.D. 267 mm, wall 7.1 mm (SikaCor Steel Protect); GRP O.D. 265 mm, wall 7 mm; aluminium O.D. 264 mm, wall 7 mm.

Battery Capacity, Cables and Fuse

Model	Battery capacity required (min. / max.)	Main fuse (slow blow)
BOW12512D (125 kgf - 12 V)	CCA 1400 / CCA 2800	500 A – ZE500
BOW12524D (125 kgf - 24 V)	CCA 783 / CCA 1567	300 A – ZE300
BOW16024D (160 kgf - 24 V)	CCA 933 / CCA 1866	355 A – ZE355
BOW18024D (180 kgf - 24 V)	CCA 668 / CCA 1336	425 A – ZE425

Cross-section	BOW12512D	BOW12524D	BOW16024D	BOW18024D
50 mm2 (AWG 1)	0 - 2 m	0 - 7,3 m	0 - 6,2 m	0 - 8,5 m
70 mm2 (AWG 2/0)	2 - 2,9 m	7,3 - 10,2 m	6,2 - 8,6 m	8,5 - 12 m
95 mm2 (AWG 3/0)	2,9 - 3,9 m	10,2 - 13,9 m	8,6 - 11,6 m	12 - 16,2 m
120 mm2 (AWG 4/0)	3,9 - 4,9 m	13,9 - 17,5 m	11,6 - 14,7 m	16,2 - 20,5 m
2 x 70 mm2	4,9 - 5,7 m	17,5 - 20,4 m	14,7 - 17,1 m	20,5 - 24 m
150 mm2 (AWG 300 MCM)	5,7 - 6,4 m	20,4 - 21,9 m	17,1 - 18,4 m	24 - 25,7 m
2 x 95 mm2	6,4 - 7,8 m	21,9 - 27,7 m	18,4 - 23,2 m	25,7 - 32,6 m
2 x 120 mm2	7,8 - 9,8 m	27,7 - 35 m	23,2 - 29,3 m	32,6 - 41,1 m
2 x 150 mm2	9,8 - 12,8 m	35 - 43,8 m	29,3 - 36,7 m	41,1 - 51,4 m

Lengths are the total of plus and minus cable. BOW16024D / BOW18024D on a 12 Volt network: the BPSPE series-parallel switch puts 2 x 12 Volt batteries in series for the thruster and in parallel for charging; max. 100A continuous (150A intermittent at 20%) through its charging contacts, so never use these batteries as starting batteries or for an anchor capstan.

Tunnel Position and Hull Connection

Item	Value (tunnel D = 250 mm (9 13/16"))
Distance A (min. 0.5 x D)	125 mm (5")
Tunnel length B (2 x D to 4 x D)	500...1000 mm (20...40")
Rounded edge R (about 0.1 x D)	25 mm (1")
Sloping side C (0.1 to 0.15 x D)	25 ... 38 mm (1...11/2")
Fairing length L (1 x D to 3 x D)	250 ... 750 mm (10 ...30")
Hull hole for the tunnel (steel / GRP / aluminium)	267 (10 33/64") / 265 (10 7/16") / 264 mm (10 25/64")

Place the tunnel as far forward as possible; the propeller preferably on the centreline but always reachable from outside. Never let the tailpiece protrude from the tunnel end.
Motor in various positions: support it if horizontal or angled, and keep it well clear of the maximum bilge water level.
Do not fit 2 bow thrusters in one tunnel: it does not double the thrust. Tandem thrusters suit larger boats; on a planing boat keep the tunnel above the waterline when planing if possible.
Grid bars only when strictly necessary: rectangular section, never round, perpendicular to the expected waveform, overlapping, no more than shown.
No copper-based antifouling; the zinc anode is a must. On steel or aluminium tunnels insulate the bolts and shaft (e.g. nylon bushes); the gaskets are already insulating.
GRP tunnel: roughen down to the glass fibre, laminate with isophtalic polyester resin (Norpol Pl 2857), seal sawn ends with resin; wet side in epoxy or 2-component polyurethane paint, then antifouling.

The drill pattern for the intermediate flange is printed at scale 1:1 in the PDF: print at 100%, check the dimensions and centre it exactly on the tunnel centreline.

Mechanical

Delivered assembled: remove the propeller, the motor and the intermediate flange; the 2 transport bushes are no longer needed.
Shim plate on the tailpiece, one packing between tailpiece and tunnel, sealant (polyurethane e.g. Sikaflex-292, or silicone) on both faces; grease the flange hole (outboard gear grease, Vetus VSG).
Check dimension H: 32 - 35 mm (1 1/4" - 1 3/8") for BOW12512D / BOW12524D, 77 - 80 mm (3 1/32" - 3 5/32") for BOW16024D, 62 - 66 mm for BOW18024D. If H is too small, fit an extra gasket between tunnel and intermediate flange and check again; then bolt the flange to the tailpiece (M12, 30 - 35 Nm, 22 - 26 ft.lbf).
Propeller: key properly seated in the keyway, greased shaft, propeller with lock washer and hex nut, secure the nut by bending the washer tag; fit the zinc anode to the shaft with its bolt. At least 1.5 mm (1/16") clearance to the tunnel wall all round.
Grease the input shaft and the motor shaft with Molykote G-n plus, fit the flexible coupling with its locking screw, then the motor (M8, 12 - 15 Nm); one motor bolt also holds the relay support. Turn the propeller by hand: it must turn easily.
Main cable nut 2 (M10): 9 - 11 Nm (6.5 - 8 ft.lbf), holding nut 1 with a spanner. Check for leaks as soon as the boat is back in the water.

Electrical

Check that the motor type plate voltage matches the boat's supply.
Main switch in the positive cable (BATSW250, or the remote BPMAIN12 / BPMAIN24 main switch with emergency stop); main fuse in the positive cable as close to the battery as possible; fuse holder ZEHC100. Voltage drop over the main cables must not exceed 10%.
Own battery bank close to the thruster; only sealed batteries (Vetus SMF or AGM) in the thruster compartment, as brush sparks can ignite charging gas. A battery of five times or more the suggested capacity can permanently damage the shaft connections.
Control panel next to the helm with at least 50 mm (2") free behind it (BPJE2, BPSE2, BPJDE2, EZDOCK2, BPAJ, BPAS, BPJR, BPSR). If the intermediate cable is cut, reconnect colour to colour.
Reversing delay with a BPJSTA joystick, BPSM side panel or FSxx foot switch: add the BPTD delay unit.
Test run: if the thrust direction is opposite to the switch, interchange the blue (no. 1) and white (no. 4) wires on the relay. Check all connections after 14 days.
A diagram in each manual shows two bow thrusters operated together from one panel.

Use and Troubleshooting

Watch for swimmers and small boats near the tunnel openings. Never run the thruster without load; stop it at once if it gives no thrust.
Never switch from starboard to port (or back) in one movement: wait until the propeller stops. With 2 panels, never operate from both at once.
Running time is limited by motor heating (see the rating); let the motor cool after use. Much larger batteries with very short, heavy cables raise the thrust, so shorten the running time.
Switch off the main switch when leaving the ship. The carbon brushes release fine black dust: keep fragile equipment away.

Symptom	Check
Motor does not run	Main switch ON; control panel fuse and main fuse (POWER LED off in these cases). Overheated motor: thermal protection cuts the control current, the panel sounds ( . - . . - ) three times and the LED is red until it cools. Check the propeller turns freely.
Motor turns slowly	Flat battery; corroded connections; carbon brushes not contacting; low temperature; weed or fishing line in the propeller.
Panel fuse blown	Short circuit in the operating circuit; check the wiring.
Motor runs (too) fast, no thrust	Damaged propeller blades, or broken drive pin: replace it and check the propeller flange.
Panel does not switch on	Press on/off a second time within 6 seconds.

Service Parts

BOW12512D / BOW12524D

Vetus BOW12512D and BOW12524D exploded view

Part	Description
SET0159	Electromotor 5.7 kW - 12 V for BOW12512D c/w solenoid switches	Ask us to source it →
SET0160	Electromotor 5.7 kW - 24 V for BOW12524D c/w solenoid switches	View part →
SET0186	Set of solenoid switches 12 V for BOW12512D	Ask us to source it →
SET0044	Set of solenoid switches 24 V for BOW12524D	Ask us to source it →
SET0128	Set of 8 pcs of carbon brushes for BOW12512D	View part →
SET0129	Set of 8 pcs of carbon brushes for BOW12524D	View part →
BPC00200	Relais cover	View part →
SET0006	Set of 2 pcs knurled nuts	Ask us to source it →
BP1321	Coupling	View part →
BP1320B	Intermediate flange	Ask us to source it →
SET0163	Tailpiece compl.	View part →
SET0151	Zincanode c/w screw	View part →
SET0090	Propeller c/w mounting set	View part →
BP118	Gasket 2 mm (2x)	Ask us to source it →
BP119	Gasket 1 mm	Ask us to source it →
BP170	V-ring	Ask us to source it →
TS110	Thermal Protection for BOW12512D	Ask us to source it →
TS95	Thermal Protection for BOW12524D	Ask us to source it →
BP256	Spare fuse 5 A	Ask us to source it →

Carbon brushes (8x) 32 × 20 × 10 mm and 28.5 × 20 × 12.5 mm versions shown; replace below L min. 16 mm.

BOW16024D

Vetus BOW16024D exploded view

Part	Description
SET0079	Electromotor 7 kW - 24 V c/w solenoid switches	View part →
SET0044	Set of solenoid switches 24 V	Ask us to source it →
SET0130	Set of 8 pcs of carbon brushes	View part →
BPC00200	Relais cover	View part →
SET0006	Set of 2 pcs knurled nuts	Ask us to source it →
BP117	Coupling	Ask us to source it →
BP194B	Intermediate flange	Ask us to source it →
SET0080	Tailpiece compl.	View part →
SET0151	Zincanode c/w screw	View part →
SET0090	Propeller c/w mounting set	View part →
BP118	Gasket 2 mm (2x)	Ask us to source it →
BP119	Gasket 1 mm	Ask us to source it →
BP170	V-ring	Ask us to source it →
TS95	Thermal Protection	Ask us to source it →
BP256	Spare fuse 5 A	Ask us to source it →

BOW18024D

Vetus BOW18024D exploded view

Part	Description
BP3018E	Electromotor 7 kW - 24 V	Ask us to source it →
BP37424	Set of solenoid switches 24 V	Ask us to source it →
SET0128	Set of 8 pcs of carbon brushes	View part →
BPC00200	Relais cover	View part →
SET0006	Set of 2 pcs knurled nuts	Ask us to source it →
BP117E	Coupling	Ask us to source it →
BP194B	Intermediate flange	Ask us to source it →
SET0080	Tailpiece compl.	View part →
SET0151	Zincanode c/w screw	View part →
SET0090	Propeller c/w mounting set	View part →
BP118	Gasket 2 mm (2x)	Ask us to source it →
BP119	Gasket 1 mm	Ask us to source it →
BP170	V-ring	Ask us to source it →
TS110	Thermal Protection	Ask us to source it →
BP256	Spare fuse 5 A	Ask us to source it →